目的 探讨白细胞介素4(IL-4)对人类单核细胞株THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1(ABCA1)表达及细胞内胆固醇流出的影响及机制.方法 THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞加入不同浓度的IL-4,处理不同时间,以及加入肝X受体α(LXRα)激动剂T0901317处理后,采用半定量RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测细胞ABCA1及LXRα mRNA和蛋白质的表达,采用油红O染色观察细胞内脂质蓄积情况,使用液体闪烁计法检测细胞内胆固醇流出,采用高效液相色谱法检测细胞内总胆固醇、游离胆固醇和胆固醇酯的量.结果 IL-4能呈浓度和时间依赖性地降低THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1表达(P＜0.05),并减少细胞内胆固醇流出.加入T0901317后能使IL-4对ABCA1的抑制作用减弱(P＜0.05).结论 IL-4能抑制THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1的表达及胆固醇的流出.LXRα激活能逆转IL-4对ABCA1的抑制作用.

To investigate the effects of neopterin on ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in human THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, and to explore the role of the liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) involved. In the present study, THP-1 cells were pre-incubated with ox-LDL to become foam cells. The protein and mRNA expression were examined by Western blot assays and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Liquid scintillation counting and high performance liquid chromatography assays were used to test cellular cholesterol efflux and cholesterol content. Neopterin decreased ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, and the LXRα siRNA can reverse the inhibitory effects induced by neopterin. Neoterin has a negative regulation on ABCA1 expression via the LXRα signaling pathway, which suggests the aggravated effects of neopterin on atherosclerosis.

Objective To study the influence of enoxaparin on serum resistin levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods From March 2010 to June 2011,a total of 93 patients with angiographically proven ACS were selected and divided into UA group(unstable angina,34 cases),NSTEMI group(non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,30 cases),STEMI group(ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,29 cases) and 30 healthy controls.All the groups were examined for serum resistin levels before treatment and given subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin afterwards.Blood samples were collected before and after treatment and determined for serum resistin levels with ELISA,and comparison was carried out between groups afterwards.Results Serum resistin levels in patients with ACS [(8.15±1.18)、(15.21±12.03)、(15.08±2.20)μ/L]were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls(P<0.05);enoxaparin lowered serum resistin levels in patients with ACS effectively(P<0.05).Conclusions Enoxaparin can significantly decrease human serum resistin levels,inhibit the inflammatory response and reduce atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of macrophages in the arterial intima. The activated macrophages secreted more pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which promote the development of the disease. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major component of high density lipoprotein, is involved in reverse cholesterol transport of lipid metabolism. Recently, it has been found that apoA-I suppresses inflammation via repression of inflammatory cytokine expression; the mechanisms of the apoA-I-suppressive action, however, are not yet well characterized. In this study, we have for the first time found that apoA-I suppresses the expression of some inflammatory cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide via a specific post-transcriptional regulation process, namely mRNA destabilization, in macrophages. Our further studies have also shown that AU-rich elements in the 3′-untranslated region of TNF-α mRNA are responsive to the apoA-I-mediated mRNA destabilization. The apoA-I-induced inflammatory cytokine mRNA destabilization was associated with increased expression of mRNA-destabilizing protein tristetraprolin through a JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-dependent manner. When blocking interaction of apoA-I with ATP-binding membrane cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a major receptor for apoA-I in macrophages, it would almost totally abolish the effect of apoA-I on tristetraprolin expression. These results present not only a novel mechanism for the apoA-I-mediated inflammation suppression in macrophages but also provide new insights for developing strategies for modulating vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Vascular endothelial cell injury or dysfunction has been implicated in the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis.Numerous studies have indicated that endothelial cells oxidative and inflammation play an important role in initiation and progress of atherosclerosis.More and more studies have demonstrated that interleukin-4 can increase oxidative stress by inflammatory mediators such as cytokines,chemokines and endothelial cell adhesion molecule.Interleukin-4 can accelerate apoptosis and promote endothelial cell updates through a variety of signaling pathway,which can lead to vascular endothelial dysfunction.These studies will most likely provide new targets or direction for the prevention and treatment of vascular inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.

目的本实验通过高脂饮食建立早期高脂血症兔模型,观察普罗布考对胆固醇相关转运体以及炎症因子的影响。方法新西兰白兔36只,雄雌不拘,采用数字表法随机分为基础组(n=9)、基础+普罗布考组(每只77 mg/d,n=9)、高脂组(n=9)和高脂+普罗布考组(每只77 mg/d,n=9)。40天后观察普罗布考对血脂的影响;HE染色观察普罗布考对各组新西兰白兔腹主动脉斑块形成的影响;油红O染色观察普罗布考对各组新西兰白兔肝脏脂质蓄积的影响;定量PCR测定普罗布考对新西兰白兔腹主动脉、肝脏和小肠中胆固醇相关转运体基因表达的影响;Western blot以及免疫组化测定普罗布考对新西兰白兔腹主动脉、肝脏、小肠内胆固醇相关转运蛋白表达的影响;ELISA方法测定普罗布考对炎症因子的影响。结果与基础组相比,高脂组免血清总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、甘油三酯(TG)水平均明显升高;与高脂组比较,高脂+普罗布考组免血清TC、LDL-C、HDL-C、TG水平均明显下降;高脂组中有动脉斑块形成,肝脏脂质蓄积增多;高脂+普罗布考组中,普罗布考明显抑制斑块的形成,减少肝脏脂质蓄积;普罗布考促进肝脏中ABCG1和SR-BI蛋白及其mRNA的表达,抑制ABCA1蛋白及其mRNA的表达,对SR-A和CD36的表达没有影响;普罗布考抑制炎症因子如IL-6、MCP-1、MCSF、VCAM-1、TNF-α的表达。结论普罗布考抑制ABCA1和炎症因子的表达,促进ABCG1和SR-B1的表达。

Aim: To determine the effects and potential mechanisms of ibrolipim on ATP-binding membrane cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding membrane cassette transporter G-1 (ABCG1) expression from human macrophage foam cells, which may play a critical role in atherogenesis. Methods: Human THP-1 cells pre-incubated with ox-LDL served as foam cell models. Specific mRNA was quantified using real-time RT-PCR and protein expression using Western blotting. Cellular cholesterol handling was studied using cholesterol efflux experiments and high performance liquid chromatography assays. Results: Ibrolipim 5 and 50 μmol/L significantly increased cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells to apoA-I or HDL. Moreover, it upregulated the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1. In addition, LXRα was also upregulated by the ibrolipim treatment. In addition, LXRα small interfering RNA completely abolished the promotion effect that was induced by ibrolipim. Conclusion: Ibrolipim increased ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression and promoted cholesterol efflux, which was mediated by the LXRα signaling pathway.

Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a crucial role in apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) binding activity and promotes cellular cholesterol efflux. ApoA-I mimetic peptide D4-F has reported to have the similar ability as apoA-I. However, the detailed mechanisms of ABCA1 regulation by D4-F are not understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of D4-F on ABCA1 expression and ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux and examined the role of Cdc42/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway on the regulation of ABCA1 by D4-F in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Results showed that D4-F stabilized ABCA1 protein and enhanced ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux but had no effect on ABCA1 messenger RNA expression. We also revealed that D4-F enhanced cAMP level and PKA activity and ABCA1 serine phosphorylation. Short interfering RNA of PKA led to reduction of ABCA1 serine phosphorylation and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux compensated by D4-F. PKA-specific activation by PKA agonist enhanced the upregulation of ABCA1 serine phosphorylation and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux by D4-F. However, ABCA1 expression did not change by treatment with PKA agonist or PKA-short interfering RNA. We found that secramine B of Cdc42 inhibitor reduced the cAMP level compensated by D4-F. These results provide evidence that D4-F enhances ABCA1 serine phosphorylation and ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux through Cdc42/cAMP/PKA pathway in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.